We Tested (and Rated!) Every Dining Table at West Elm — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space

updated Apr 9, 2024
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Product photo of West Elm Parker Expandable Dining Table with seal in upper left that reads "Apartment Therapy Personal Shopper West Elm Dining Tables 2024"
Credit: West Elm

Dining tables are an essential investment for the home, and the model you choose can say a lot about you. The size, shape, material, and finish not only provide a glimpse into our day-to-day, but they also show how we appreciate food. Perhaps your table is used more for remote work or crafting than it is for dining and entertaining. Regardless of how your dining table serves you and your household, choosing the right one matters. As your Personal Shopper, we visited the Brooklyn headquarters and two storefronts of West Elm to check out every dining table on the floor. Just as we did with their sofas, we sat at every table (multiple times!) to determine the perfect match for every style and need. Read on to find the West Elm dining table that’s best for you.

Why West Elm?

West Elm is an AT editor- and reader-favorite retailer for all things home and kitchen, including, of course, dining room furniture. The brand’s vast selection not only looks good but can also be delivered directly to your dining area with white-glove delivery. West Elm also offers free furniture customization and design guidance as well as complimentary swatches from a plethora of upholstery options to help you find your ideal materials and colors. Below are the exact dining table models we tested, but you can also find many of them in different shapes and variations.


The Dining Tables

The range of dining furniture carried by West Elm is not limited to this list. Visit the website for more options.

The Criteria

We judged every West Elm dining table in-store based on the following five criteria, giving each category an average rating between 1 and 5. These scores helped us determine who the table suits best and for what type of dining.

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Capacity: How many people can fit around the table? Are any structural or design elements (i.e., beams, legs, etc.) obtrusive?

Customizability: Are size, configuration, material, color, or other details customizable? How granular can a shopper get when customizing?

Versatility: Can the table expand or change size? How difficult would it be to assemble, disassemble, or move? Can it be used as more than just a dining table?

Appearance: What style does it best suit? Does it lean more traditional (i.e., detailing, dark wood) or more contemporary (i.e., sleek, light wood)?

Quality: Is the table built for looks or to last? Are its materials more basic (and typically easy to maintain) or more luxe and uncommon?


Every Editor-Tested Dining Table at West Elm

What Impressed Us: The reliability.

Solid acacia wood in a cool walnut finish makes the Keira Expandable Dining Table one that’ll stand the test of time. Kiln dried for reinforced durability, it’s also expandable thanks to an included drop-in leaf that goes in the center of the table. Its legs even have levelers built in, which allow the table to adapt to varying floor levels. Wherever you move, however you redecorate, whatever you use it for the most, the Keira is an understated classic built to last through it all.

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 60″ – 80″, seats 4 – 8 people
  • Also available in 74″ – 94″ and 120″ sizes
  • Includes drop-in expansion leaf

What impressed us: The angular base and tempered glass top.

Inspired by retro design, the Jensen table stuns with its uniquely shaped wooden base, which is nicely contrasted with a round glass top. We also viewed a rectangular version but prefer the safe, curved edges of this model, as well as its more intimate size. Specifically, it can comfortably seat up to four people without taking up as much space as many four-sided tables. Regardless of whether you go with an acorn or walnut base, the Jensen will instantly add warmth to your dining area. And at just $549, it’s easily one of West Elm’s more affordable options. You’ll want to be careful, however, as the glass does appear to accumulate scratches with time. But, a couple of placemats should help remedy the issue. 

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 42”, seats up to 4 people
  • Available in 2 wood base finishes

Best Statement Maker: Anton Solid Wood Dining Table

What Impressed Us: The modern minimalism.

One of West Elm’s best-selling dining tables, the Anton has the clean lines, symmetry, and natural wood aesthetic expected of mid-century modern furniture but with a striking level of minimalism that makes it more modern than mid-century. Its plinth legs are wide enough to give the table secure support while also being thin enough (without the need for additional beam support) to leave plenty of room for everyone’s legs. It’s a table that will truly make a statement in your home.

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 72″, seats 6 people
  • Also available in 86″ and 120″ sizes and in three wood finishes
  • Also available in a round pedestal style
  • Crafted in a Fair Trade certified factory

Best Mid-Century Modern: Mid-Century Expandable Dining Table

What Impressed Us: The effortlessness.

An easygoing addition to pretty much any decor scheme, the Mid-Century Expandable dining table deserves its refreshingly straightforward name. It’s able to expand from a compact 39″ two-seater to a 55″ four-seater, and its slender legs and unobtrusive support beams make it comfortable at either size. The table comes in two other sizes, both of which are also expandable, and its sustainably sourced and Fair Trade-certified solid wood frame is kiln dried for high-quality durability over time.

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

Best Farmhouse: Hargrove Round Table

What Impressed Us: The simple silhouette and rustic finish.

We deemed the Hargrove table the best farmhouse-style pick not only because of its simple wooden finish and slightly weathered texture, but also because this four-seater offers tons of surface area. Even if you don’t live in a rural area, you can still take part in an authentic country morning breakfast by loading your table up with the works and having space to spare. Additionally, we loved the Hargrove’s light-colored design, which contrasts nicely with its heavier elements, namely, the thick rounded legs. You could easily style the table to fit more of a boho aesthetic or keep things quaint depending on your choice of decor.

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 48”, seats up to 4 people
  • Also available in a 60” size
  • Contract grade (suitable for commercial use)
  • Made with sustainably sourced wood

What impressed us: The clean lines and black finish.

If you can’t tell by now, we’re big fans of expandable dining tables. The Parker model is no exception, especially when you consider its soft edges, minimal design, and tapered, out-of-the-way legs. Up close, its black water-based finish looks glossy and feels slightly textured, which adds visual interest to the otherwise simple table. What’s more, you get plenty of surface area no matter which size you opt for. You can choose between the smallest size, which seats four to six people, a middle size that seats between six and eight, or a large size that seats from eight to 10. Together, all of its elements make the Parker a refined choice for those who prefer a more grown-up aesthetic, yet it still remains practical for small and large parties alike.

How we rated it:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 60” – 80”, seats 4 – 6 people
  • Also available in a 72”– 92” and 100” – 120” sizes
  • Made with FSC-certified wood in a Fair Trade-certified factory
  • Includes a drop-in leaf expander

What Impressed Us: The efficiency.

The Jules Drop Leaf Dining Table comes in the shape of a round, cafe-style two-top, but, when fully expanded, can comfortably fit four for a full meal. Slender metal legs make leg positioning easy, and its collapsible sides make the table one of the most space-efficient styles on our list. When the drop-leaf attachments are fully expanded, they meet seamlessly with the tabletop’s center, which aids in avoiding messy crevices or an uneven surface. For those living in small spaces or apartments who like to host, the Jules is our pick.

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 22″ – 42″, seats 2 – 4 people
  • Available in 2 wood finishes
  • Includes two 10″ drop-leaf expanders

What Impressed Us: The versatility.

Working from your dining room table? No problem. Technically, with the right seating, all of the tables in this list are suitable to some degree. But the Box Frame Drop Leaf Expandable Table is our pick for makeshift home offices thanks to its easily adjustable, dual-sided drop-leaf expanders. Need a little more surface area? Simply lift either or both leaves and easily hinge the support beams underneath to secure them seamlessly. Able to fit four people comfortably — up to six if you really like each other — the Box Frame works triple-duty as a table for many, a table for few, and a desk for remote workers.

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 24″ – 48″, seats 2 – 6 people
  • Crafted in a Fair Trade-certified factory
  • Includes two 12″ drop-leaf extenders

Best Marble Top: Silhouette Pedestal Table

What impressed us: The marble surface and brass metal base.

For the ostentatious interior decorator, there’s the Silhouette Pedestal table. During our time at West Elm, we viewed a number of marble-accented coffee tables, but when the material is utilized for a piece of this size, it’s even more show-stopping. Of course, there’s another visual element at play here, and that’s the striking metal base that’s finished in gold-toned brass. Is there any color combo that’s more elegant than gold and white? We’re beginning to think not. (The table is also available in an all-black version.) Looks aside, it goes without saying that you’ll be able to utilize this sturdy piece for far more than just entertaining — just take care to wipe spills immediately. Although the marble is treated with a permeating sealer, it can still stain.

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 48”, seats up to 4 people
  • Also available in 44” and 60” sizes
  • Available in two marble and base finishes

Best First Dining Table: Frame Expandable Dining Table

What Impressed Us: The durability.

Contract grade — meaning it’s made to meet the demands of commercial use — with an engineered wood top, the Frame Expandable Dining Table is built to last. It has an industrial look with an iron frame and is expandable by way of a center drop-in leaf. Because the top is engineered wood, it’s sleek with a sheen instead of matte and rustic. Kiln dried to prevent warping over time (as other engineered wood tops tend to), the Frame table is easy to clean, whether you’re using it for crafting or eating dinner.

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 60″ – 80″, seats 6 – 8 people
  • Contract grade (suitable for commercial use)
  • Includes drop-in expansion leaf

Best Table for Two: Tripod Dining Table

What Impressed Us: The intimacy.

A solid dining table option for households of one or two, the Tripod has a trendy, restaurant feel to it. Its robust dark wood allows it to stand out without feeling obtrusive, especially if paired with mid-century modern dining chairs with straight, slender legs or — better yet — unique upholstered armchairs. The Tripod has the capacity to be a centerpiece all on its own, but it’s also humble enough to simply add to your current decor. It’s practically made for enjoying intimate meals, conversations, and happy hours with your nearest and dearest.

How We Rated It:

Credit: Apartment Therapy Media

Specifications:

  • 30″, seats up to 3 people